Russian website encourages users to report LGBT people for torture in horrifying 'game'

The chairman of Russia's LGBT network admitted he is terrified after seeing the site

2018-04-27

A horrifying Russian website has been encouraging users to "report" LGBT people for torture in a horrifying Saw-inspired "game".

The website, named Saw after the horror franchise and described as "Chechnya's Comeback", launched this year and at least three men have already been violently assaulted.

The three victims contacted the Russian LGBT Network to report what had happened and claimed that there may be more victims who are too afraid to speak out.

According to Gay Star News, the website allows members to "report" people they think are gay by uploading photos with personal information and details on how to find them. The site's organisers hope to make a database of LGBT people with private information including their address.

The public will then be able to access the names and other information for 200 Russian Rubles (Around £2). Meanwhile, if your name and details are in the database and you want them removed, you'll have to pay a fee of 1,500 Russian Rubles (Around £17).

The website, which also features an article about the "best 50 homophobes from Chechyna", describes the targeting of LGBT people as a "game" and lists the entire month of May as dates for the vile event, which will reportedly take place in Ufa, south-east Russia.

Access to the website has since been blocked, but it has continued on social media, sparking concern that the attacks may soon take place across the entire country.

Mikhail Tumasov, the chairman of the Russia LGBT Network, said: "This is terrifying. I've never seen anything like this. The killing and torturing of gay people, they call it a game.

"It's the first time we have seen an organised approach to homophobic violence, it's very dangerous."

Tumascov also worries that the website's organisers may target visitors attending the 2018 World Cup in Russia later this year.

"We are about to start our world cup, many foreigners will come and many won't know what they can face here. Some of the fans could be simply LGBT friendly, they don't have to be gay, they could be straight and could behave freely. And if there is suspicion they might be followed," he added.

Tumascov also warned the LGBT people of Russia, urging them to be careful: "Be very careful about online invitations to date, make sure you have a friend coming with you if you are meeting someone online for the first time."

The news comes following Chechnya's on-going anti-gay purge, which has seen LGBT people face violence, arrests and persecution.